Queensland Fruit Fly

About fruit flies I Impact of QFF l Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone I Greater Sunraysia PFA I Permanent Fruit Fly Zone l Life cycle I Surveillance and prevention I Information for residents I Review of fruit fly in Victoria I Further information

Latest Information

• Review of fruit fly in Victoria
• Fruit fly outbreak information
• Information for residents

About fruit flies Only two species of economically important fruit flies occur in Australia. One of these is the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) which permanently inhabits the growing areas of Western Australia. The other is the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni)(or QFF), which permanently inhabits parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and the eastern corner of Victoria. QFF is the primary fruit fly of concern in Victoria. The impact of Queensland fruit fly Queensland fruit fly is one of the world's worst horticultural pests. It attacks a wide range of hosts plants, lowering production and making fruit inedible, with severe consequences for local and international trade.

Adult Queensland fruit fly

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Travelling within Victoria - fruit fly management zones

Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone
The key fruit production areas of Sunraysia, the Mid Murray and the Goulburn Valley, along with the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) of New South Wales an the Riverland of South Australia are located within an area known as the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone (FFEZ). The zone (see FFEZ map PDF 1.9MB) was established under an agreement between South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, the Commonwealth and several key Industry bodies in 1995.

The aim is to facilitate exports of horticultural produce from the area to fruit fly sensitive markets within Australia (Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia) and overseas. In addition to maintaining existing markets, the FFEZ has proven particularly successful in opening up important new markets for citrus and stone fruit to the USA, New Zealand and South East Asia. Some of these markets (eg.USA) will not accept fruit unless it is from such pest free areas.

Movement of fruit into the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone (FFEZ) is generally prohibited. Signs on major roads indicate when the FFEZ is being entered, and that any fruit must be destroyed.

Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area
The Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area (PFA) is a new zone located within the FFEZ and has been established to provide greater fruit fly control measures for the high-value horticultural crops (including citrus, table grapes and stone fruit) grown in the area.

The PFA is a collaborative project between the Victorian and NSW Governments, the citrus, table grape and stone fruit industries, and Horticulture Australia Limited.
PFA brochure (PDF 1.2MB)

For more information, visit Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area (external link)

Permanent Fruit Fly Zone
Fruit fly is endemic in a large part of eastern Victoria known as the Permanent Fruit Fly Zone (PFFZ) (see FFEZ map PDF 1.9MB). The PFFZ is declared as a Restricted Area under the Act and includes the city of Wodonga. Fruit fly host fruit must not be moved from the PFFZ into other parts of Victoria.

DPI does not currently conduct fruit fly eradication programs within the PFFZ.

The life cycle of Queensland fruit fly

As with most insects, there are four stages in the life cycle: egg, larva (maggot), pupa and adult (fly).

1.	Egg - Eggs are white in colour and banana-shaped. They are unlikely to be seen by householders.
2.	Larva (maggot) - Soon after the eggs have been laid, a small maggot emerges from each. Maggots have cutting jaws which help to tear the fruit into pieces small enough to swallow. Maggots tend to eat towards the centre of the fruit. This also promotes rotting of the fruit, although it may look perfect from the outside. When the maggot has completed growing, it chews its way out of the fruit, which by then has usually fallen, and burrows into the soil.
3.	Pupa - In the soil, larvae become inactive and change into oval, brown, hard pupae, in which adult flies develop.
4.	Adult (fly) - After hatching, adult flies find a food source. After feeding, the flies mate and each female then searches for ripening fruit which she punctures and lays her eggs. The punctures are very small and can usually only be recognised by an experienced person.

Surveillance and prevention program in Victoria

Surveillance and control
Adult fruit fly activity can be monitored by using traps containing synthetic attractants. The most commonly used attractant or lure is Cuelure, which only attracts male Queensland fruit flies. Traps are placed in the shade of the canopy of host trees and the contents checked on a weekly basis during the fruit fly season and then fortnightly during the winter months.

If enough flies are detected an outbreak is declared. Once this occurs, the boundaries of the quarantine area or outbreak zone are defined. Other suspension areas are declared for the movement of host product out of these areas to other states. Eradication activities following an outbreak can be directed at either the eggs and larvae in the fruit or at the adults. They include the destruction of infested fruit and removal of wild or neglected fruit trees.

Control measures also include cover sprays and bait sprays. Cover sprays (systemic insecticides that will also kill immature stages present in fruit) are not generally used for the control of Queensland fruit fly in an outbreak situation . Bait sprays, which are comprised of a mixture of protein, water and an insecticide, can be 'spot' sprayed into various sites in an orchard.

If the outbreak is in an urban area, trees on private properties may be sprayed with bait to control the population of adult flies. In some situations, an integrated bait and sterile insect technique (SIT) program can be used as an alternative to baiting only. SIT involves releasing large numbers of sterile Queensland fruit fly into the outbreak area to minimise fertile matings and hence reduce the population.

Prevention
Quarantine measures such as inspection of fruit and vegetables entering or leaving areas, assist in preventing the further spread of fruit flies. There are fruit disinfestation methods such as cold or hot temperature treatments which can be used to allow the sale of fruit outside the outbreak area.

Information for residents

In all districts of Victoria, residents can help to control fruit fly by correctly managing fruit fly host plants and fruit on their properties.
Fruit fly and the home garden (PDF 850KB)

In most areas of Victoria, DPI will respond to reports of suspected fruit fly detections by confirming the identification of the suspect sample and, where appropriate, conducting an eradication program. Residents are encouraged to report suspected detections, or neglected host trees, by telephone (136 186) or email (plant.standards@dpi.vic.gov.au).

However, residents of the Permanent Fruit Fly Zone should note that DPI does not currently conduct fruit fly eradication programs in that zone.

Melbourne metropolitan eradication program
Resident notification (PDF 106KB)
Baiting - Naturalure (PDF 203KB)
Baiting - canite suppression blocks (PDF 94KB)

Review of fruit fly in Victoria

DPI’s Biosecurity Victoria division, in collaboration with the DPI Economics Branch and representatives from Victoria’s fruit industries, has commenced a review of the State’s fruit fly management program. The review has been necessitated by the increasing incidence of the pest within northern irrigation production areas, and the ongoing need to maintain and develop market access opportunities for Victoria’s fruit industries.

Since January 2008, a total of 30 new Queensland fruit fly outbreaks have been detected in Victoria, disrupting the trade and marketing of fresh fruit and some vegetables to sensitive domestic and international markets, and proving to be costly to control.

The review aims to identify industry expectations and future requirements in relation to accessing fruit fly sensitive markets under area freedom certification, as well as identifying potential management strategies for future adoption within Victoria.

Consultants have been engaged to undertake a technical review of the program, as well as to engage industry to determine their needs. A draft report is due in mid-October.

An industry review panel has been established to support the review process and provide input. More information can be obtained from:
Gary D’Arcy
Senior Officer Fruit Fly Policy
ph. 9210 9392
email gary.darcy@dpi.vic.gov.au


Further information

What to do if you suspect you have Queensland fruit fly on your property
If you think that you have found Queensland fruit fly, or to obtain further information, contact DPI on 136 186 or email us at plant.standards@dpi.vic.gov.au

External Information
To find out more about Queensland fruit fly, visit:

• NSW Department of Primary Industries (external link)
• Primary Industries and Resources SA (external link)